Switching mechanism



June 30, 1936- s. J. s'rocKFLETH SWITCHING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 6, 19355 Sheets-Sheet l June 30, 1936 s. J. sTocKFLETH SWITCHING MECHANISMFiled Sept. 6, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /A/l/ENTOR BVSQJ. STOCKF/ ETH ATTONEV June 30, 1936. s. J. sTocKFLETH SWTCHING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 6,1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 /NVE/VTOR BVSJ. STOCKFLETH AT ORA/EV June 30,1936- s. J. sTocKFLETl-l y 2,045,971

swI'TcHING MECHANISM Patented June 30, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT F FICE.

SWITCHING MECHANISM York Application September 6, 1935, SerialA No.39,431

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvementsin switching mechanisms andparticularly to switches of the cross-bar type for use in establishingconnections in a telephone system.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved and simplifiedswitch structure of this type particularly in regard to the contactmaking arrangements.

Cross-bar switches of the types on which the present invention is animprovement are well known in the art and consist essentially of anumber of sets of Contact strips arranged in horizontal rows withcorresponding intersecting setsarranged in vertical rows and with oneset of each kind adjacent intersecting points of said rows and meansincluding one. group of operating members intersecting another groupofsuch members controlled by magnets. Connections may be estab lishedbetween two sets of contact strips at any intersecting point by therotation of one correspendingA intersecting member of each group.

Cross-bar switches of this type have also been provided where the numberof intersecting members of one group', for example, horizontally locatedbars, is half that of the intersecting members of the other group orvertically locatedV bars. In this case the rotation of a bar of thesmaller group in either of two directions controlsthe selection of oneor another horizontal row` of contact strips for operation by a singlemovement of a bar in the larger group. Cross-bar switches of these typeshave also been provided in which the sets of contact strips have beendoubled atI the intersecting points to double the capacity of theswitch, but for these switches outside means is provided for selectingone or the other of two sets of connections made at an intersectingpoint by the switch.

It is in connection with these types of switches in the prior art thatthe present inventionhas been disclosed although it should be understoodthat the improvements forming the subject-matter of the presentinvention are applicable to other types of switches without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

A feature of the applicants inventionv isan arrangement of. contactstrips and operating bars whereby the operation of a horizontal bar andeither one of a pair of vertical bars, causes..v the establishing of anyone ofA four different connections between horizontal and verticalstrips at a common intersecting point of said: strips..

Another feature is the arrangement ofthe horizontal bars for rotation inopposite directionsland thearrangement. of the. vertical barsso thatvone (Cl.v 179-2754) bar of eachpair is rotatablein` one-direction andthe other is rotatable in theK opposite direction for the establishingof any ofthe four different connectionsat the common intersecting pointof a horizontal` bar and a pair of vertical bars.

The horizontal rows of Contact str-ips may represent linesand thevertical; strips-trunks. With this assumption the operation of ahorizontal bar in one' direction andthe operation of either one of apair of- Verticall bars. will establish connections between eithery arst line and rst trunk or a second line-and a rst.trunk,.and, if thehorizontal bar is rotated in the opposite direction and. either one of apair of vertical.barsisrotated, connections will be established' betweeneither the first line and the second. trunk or the.v second line and thesecondi trunk.

Thus.it.ispossible with thisarrangementof bars and contact strips` to.concentrate' thev strips in morecompact unitsor common'.intersectingpioints containing contacts of two. lines and twol trunksandzyet by a single operation` of two intersecting bars secure thesamechoices of' connections as in former. structures in the prior art4in:v which the contacts of two lines" and two: trunks were combined ateach intersecting point but in which: the aid of outside control. meanswas necessary to choose between either of two connections estab'- lishedat the intersecting, point by the operation of a horizontal and averticalbar.

The invention has beenfillustrated in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Fig L isa front View off a cross-barcswtch` embodying.y the features ofthis'invention'.

Fig. 2 is a left-hand. side view of the switch shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3v isa vertical cross-section of the switch taken on line 3-3 ofFg.I and: omitting the'horizontal bars.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top view ofthe switch shown in Fig. 1:.

Fig. 5- isa fragmentary cross-sect-ion of a vertical assembly unit takenon 1ine-5--5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective-view of the switchV showing portionsof a horizontal and a Vertical bar, the operating magnets therefor andthe arrangement of the contact strips controlled by saidy bars inaccordance with this invention.

Fig. '7 shows inI diagrammatic from. the a-r.- rangement of the contactstrips: at one crossconnecting point and indicatingv the directions ofmovement of these4 contactsA when operated.

Fig. Sis a diagrammatic representation'v ofik four lines and two trunksat two cross-connecting points and; the circuit connections therefor..

Referring now to the drawings, the invention has been illustrated inconnection with a switch structure of the same general type as the onedisclosed in the Patent 2,012,329 of November 19, 1935 to J. R.Reynolds. In general the switch comprises a frame consisting of twohorizontal U-shaped upper and lower frame members I8 and II and twoL-shaped Vertical frame members I2 and I3. Between the horizontal framemembers Ill and II are mounted Vertical assembly units I8. Each of theseunits comprises two vertical left-hand and right-hand plates I'I and I8.Plate I'I is connected to frame member II by means of a lug I9 and ascrew to the member II. The plate I8 is similarly attached to framemember I 8. Between plates I'I and I8 are mounted the Various contactstrips to be operated upon at five diierent cross-connecting points infour different ways at each cross-point as will be hereinafterdescribed. In Fig. l, two of the cross-points are exposed by the removalof portions at the second and third horizontal bars to show front viewsof the strips at these points.A Between the plates Il and I8 at the rearthereof are mounted ve rows of horizontal contact strips. Each rowcontains the horizontal strips of three conductors each of a pair oflines. The conductors of a pair of these lines have been designated inFigs. 3 to 8 with the num-eral LI and 2IL2. In the sam'e mounting at therear is also located the vertical contact strips of one trunk marked inFigs. 3 to 8 22TI. All of these strips extend toward the front of theunit. The horizontal rows being individual lines, while the trunk isconnected through from one row to another as shown in Fig. 3. At thefront of the plates and attached to plate Il by means of bolts andinsulated plates indicated by the numeral 25 are the spaced Verticalcontact strips of a second trunk indicated in Figs. 3 to 8 by thenumeral 25'12. These bolts and plates 25 are connected as shown in Figs.1 and 3 to plate Il at lugs 21. Thus the present switch shows a capacityof ten lines in five horizontal rows with two lines in each row andrepresented at Ve cross-points in the row, and a capacity of ten trunksin ive vertical rows with two trunks in each row.

On plate Il there is mounted an operating magnet 38 secured to anangular projection 3l on the plate I'I by means of a nut 32. On theplate Il is also mounted a vertical bar 33, of an L- shapedcross-section and integral therewith is an armature 34 in position to beattracted by the magnet 35 to rotate the bar I'I. The bar Il is mountedto rock on an edge of plate Il as shown in Fig. 5, and the bar 33 isheld in place by means of a screw 35 secured to the plate Il andengaging the center portion of a straight wire spring 35, the ends ofwhich are held by screws 3l in lugs on plate II. A spring member 38 issecured on the back of plate Il and engages through stud l on one sideof the L-:shaped vertical bar 33 to hold it in normal or non-operatedposition. This spring 38 also serves as one of the off-normal springs toengage with other off-normal springs 42 and 43. These Springs operatewhen the bar 33 is rotated. On the plate i8 is mounted correspondingoperating members such as the Vertical bar 45 with its armature 45 andoperating coil 4l with a spring 48 engaging other off-normal springs E9and 5I), the spring 58 serving to hold the Vertical bar 45 in normalposition through the medium of a stud 5I. The Vertical bar 45 is held inthe same manner as the Vertical bar 33 to the plate I8 by springs andscrews corresponding to spring 35 and screws 35 and 3l.

The horizontal bars 52 are mounted in front of the vertical bars onbracket 53 secured to the vertical L-shaped side members I?. and I3 ofthe frame. Bearing screws 55 secured in the brackets 53 extend throughbearing sleeves 55 secured to the ends of the horizontal bars 52 for therotation of the bars. The upper horizontal bar 52, referring to Fig. l,has its butterfly armature 55 at its left-hand end, while the remainingbars have their armatures at alternately opposite ends, that is, thesecond bar from the top has its armature on the right hand, the thirdbar has its armature on the left hand, etc. The butterfly armature 56extends upwardly and downwardly from the bar 52 in front of the cores ofupper and lower magnets 5l and 53, respectively, to cause the horizontalbar to be rotated in a clockwise direction by the magnet 5l and in acounterclockwise direction by the magnet 55. Each bar 52 is thereforecontrolled by two magnets. These magnets are mounted in pairs on theinwardly projecting sides of the L-shaped vertical frame `members I2 andI3 by means of extensions of the cores entering holes in the sides ofsaid members and nuts 58 screwed on to said extensions. The L-shapedframe members I2 and i3 therefore form suitable return pole-pieces forthe magnets. The armature 55 has a projection or member 62 bentpractically at right angles to the armature towards the rear of thestructure outside of the frame members I2 and I3. To the member 52 issecured an outwardly projecting stud 53 which extends between thesnubbing springs 55 for the purpose of quickly restoring the horizontalbar 62 to normal position. The off-normal spring pile-ups 55 mounted onthe bracket 53 are located in two groups opposite the snubbing springsand are controlled by the rotation of the 'bar 52 to be operated throughstuds 5l to close various connections as the bar 52 is operated in onedirection or the other.

The operation of the switch and the arrangement of the contact stripswill now be described. Connections may be established between theindividual strips in either of the two sets QILI or 22112 in the rsthorizontal row of contact strips and the individual strips of either ofthe two sets of corresponding Vertical contact strips ZZTI or 25T2 inthe rst left-hand assembly unit looking at Fig. 1. Similarly connectionsmay be made between either of the two lines in any horizontal row andeither of the two trunks in any vertical assembly unit. Theseconnections may be established by the operation of a correspondinghorizontal bar in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction and eitherof the two corresponding vertical bars in a vertical assembly unit atthe point where these horizontal and vertical bars cross. The generaloperations of the switch may best be described in connection with Figs.6, 'Z and 8. Fig. 6 shows a portion of a horizontal bar 52, a portion oftwo associated Vertical bars and 45 and portions of the contact stripsat the intersecting cross-point which is sufficient to clearlyunderstand the method of operation, while the Figs. 7 and 8 aid inunderstanding the circuit connections. If, for example, a connection isdesired between the strips of line 2811i and trunk spring 69 and acrossthe U-shaped portion 'I0 75 `thereof. Then the vertical bar 33 isrotated in a clockwise direction by the energization of the verticalmagnet 30. The rotation of the vertical bar 33 causes the member 1Iattached thereto to press the selecting linger 68 against the spring69.. As this spring is in line with the insulation member 12 which. isattached to all of the strips of line 20LI, it will move this membertowards the rightv and thus cause the strips of line 20L! to makecontact, respectively, with the corresponding stationary trunk strips26T2. Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate how three conductors of line 20L| will beconnected with the corresponding three conductors of trunk 26T2 by themovement of the line strips towards the right as indicated by the arrowA. If a connection is desired between line 2 IL2 and trunk 26T2 thehorizontal bar 52 will be operated in a counter-clockwise direction asbefore by the energization of magnet 58, this will place the selectinglinger 14 of bar 52 in position in front of the special spring 15 andacross the U-shaped portion 1E thereof. Then the vertical bar 45 isrotated in a counter-clockwise direction by the energization of thevertical magnet 41. The rotation of the vertical bar causes the member11 connected to the vertical bar to press the selecting finger 14against the spring 15, thus in turn causes the insulation member 18,connected to the strips of line 2 IL2, to move towards the left l tomake these strips of line 2IL2 make contact,

respectively, with the corresponding vertical stationary strips of trunk26T2. This movement is illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8 by the arrow B. Ifa connection is desired between line 20L! and EZTI, the horizontal bar52 is operated in a clockwise direction to cause finger 68 to be placedin position in front of a special spring (not shown) but identical withspring B9 and located below the spring 69 and across a U-shaped portionof this spring. Then the vertical bar 33 is rotated in a clockwisedirection by the energization of the vertical magnet 30. The rotation ofthis vertical bar causes the member 1| to press the obstruction ngeragainst the special spring (not shown) which then causes the insulationmember 89, (shown in Figs. l, 4, and 5) connected to the vertical tripsof trunk 22TI, to move towards the right to make contact respectivelywith corresponding horizontal strips of line 2|LI. This movement isillustrated in Figs. '7 and 8 by the arrow C. If a connection is desiredbetween line 2lL2 and trunk 22Tl, the horizontal bar 52 will be operatedin a clockwise direction by the horizontal magnet 51 to place theselecting linger 14 in front of the spring 82 and across the U-shapedportion 83 thereof. Then the vertical bar 45 is rotated in acounter-clockwise direction by the operation of the vertical magnet 41.The rotation of the vertical bar 45 causes the member 11 connectedthereto to press the selecting linger 14 against spring 82. This in turncauses the insulation member 85 connected to the correspondinghorizontal strips of trunk 22T! to make these strips contact withcorresponding horizontal strips of line 22L2. This movement isillustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 by the arrow D. Thus it will be noted thatby the rotation of the horizontal bar 52 in either of two directions andby the rotation of either of the two vertical bars 33 and 45, fourdifferent types of connections may be established at the commoncross-point of said bars. After a vertical bar has been operated, itwill maintain the corresponding selecting finger in the engaged positionand the horizontal bar 52 may be returned to its normal position. Thereturn oi' the horizontal bar will place the' remaining selectingiingers of this bar in a neutral position and this bar may now be usedto initiate connections at other points. It is therefore evident that aconcentration of contact strips may 3'.

be made at only five cross-connecting points for each set of twovertical bars of five assembly units in each of five horizontal rows, towit, at a total of twenty-live cross-points in the switch. It should, ofcourse, be understood that any other number of vertical bars andcorresponding number of horizontal bars may be employed for largecapacity switches without departing from the spirit of the invention andWithout changing any of the features involved in this invention. Torelease an established connection at a crosspoint al1 that is requiredis. the release of the actuated magnet 3B or 41 to return the associatedverticalbar 33 or 45 to normal position. Fig. 8 shows the circuitconnections for lines 20Ll and 2lL2 at one cross-point to trunks 22T!and 25'12 and for lines 90LI and 9|L2 at another crosspoint to trunks22T! and 26T2, the various arrows indicating the movements of thevarious strips to establish these connections.

While the invention has been disclosed in connection with but a singleform of switch, it should be understood that the various featuresthereof could readily be applied to other 'forms of switch structureswithout departing from the spirit thereof and that the presentdisclosure is illustrative of only a single embodiment of the invention.f

What is claimed is: y

' 1. In a cross-bar switch, horizontal and vertical rows of intersectingcontact strips, horizontal and vertical bars, and means effective by theoperation of a horizontal bar and either oi a pair of vertical bars forestablishing either one of four different connections between horizontaland vertical strips at a common intersecting point of said strips.

2. In a cross-bar switch, horizontal and vertical rows of intersectingcontact strips, horizontal and vertical bars, and means effective by therotation of one horizontal bar in either direction and the rotation ofeither one of a pair of vertical bars in one direction only forestablishing either one of four different connections between horizontaland vertical strips at a common intersecting point of said strips.

3. In a cross-bar switch, horizontal and vertical rows of intersectingcontact strips, horizontal bars, means for rotating said bars in eitherdirection, vertical bars arranged in pairs, means for rotating one barin each pair in one direction and the other bar in the oppositedirection, and means effective by the rotation of one horizontal bar ineither direction and the rotation of either of the two bars of avertical pair for establishing any one of four diierent connectionsbetween horizontal and vertical strips at a common intersecting point ofsaid strips.

4. In a cross-bar switch, horizontal and vertical rows of intersectingcontact strips, the horizontal strips representing terminals of linesand the vertical strips representing terminals of trunks, said stripsbeing arranged at each intersecting point so that connections may bemade at each intersecting point between a iirst line and a first orsecond trunk, or between a second line and a first or second trunk,horizontal and vertical intersecting bars, means for operatingv saidbars, and means responsive to the operation of one horizontal and eitherone of the vertical adjacent, bars for' establishing any one of saidfour kinds of connections at the intersecting points of the operatedbars. Y

5. In a cross-bar switch, horizontal and vertical operating bars,horizontal and vertical rows of intersecting contact Astrips arranged sothat two adjacent rows of horizontal strips and two adjacent rows ofvertical strips have their contacts arranged in a single group at eachof the intersecting points of said four rows of strips, and meanseffective by the operation of .a horizontal bar and either of a pair'ofVertical bars for establishing connections between contacts of a singlegroup in either of four different combination of contacts, eachcombination constituting contacts of a horizontal row of strips andcontacts of a Vertical row of strips in said group.

6. In a cross-bar switch, horizontal and vertical rows of intersectingcontact strips, the horizontal strips representing terminals of linesand the vertical strips representing terminals of trunks, said stripsbeing arranged at each intersecting point in four groups, one groupcomprising strips of a rst line and a first trunk, a second groupcomprising a second line and a irst trunk, a third group comprising afirst line and a second trunk, and a fourth group comprising a secondline and a second trunk, horizontal and Vertical intersecting bars, andmeans effective by the operation of one horizontal bar and either of twoadjacent vertical bars for establishing connections between contactstrips representing a line and a trunk at the corresponding intersectingpoint of said bars at any one of the four groups.

7. In a cross-bar switch, horizontal and vertical rows of intersectingcontact strips, the .horizontal strips representing terminals of lines,the Vertical strips representing terminals of trunks, said strips beingarranged at each intersecting point in four groups, one groupcomprisingstrips of a first line and a rst trunk, a second group comprising asecond line and first trunk, a third group comprising a rst line and asecond trunk, and a fourth group comprising a second line and a secondtrunk, horizontal bars and means for rotating said bars in eitherdirection, vertical bars arranged in pairs, and intersecting saidhorizontal bars, means for rotating one bar in each pair of verticalbars in one direction and the other bar in the opposite direction, andmeans for establishing connections at either a rst group between a firstline and a iirst trunk by the rotation of a horizontal bar in onedirection and the rotation of a Vertical bar 'of a pair or at a secondgroup between a second line and a rst trunk by the rotation of the samehorizontal bar in the same direction and the rotation lof the othervertical bar of the pair, or at a third group between a first line and asecond trunk by the rotation of the horizontal bar in the oppositedirection and the rotation of the iirst-mentioned vertical bar, or at afourth group between a second line and a second trunk by the rotation ofthe horizontal bar in the last-mentioned direction and the rotation ofthe second-mentioned Vertical bar.

